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THE EUROPEAN OYSTER CATCHER. 



Hcematopus ostralegus, LINN^US. 

 PLATE XXVI. 



Haematopus ostralegus, Linn., $c. L' hueterier pie, Temm. 

 Common or Pied Oyster Catcher of British authors. 



THE Oyster Catcher is frequent (in some parts 

 abundant) on our coasts from south to north, except 

 where they are very rocky and precipitous. Their 

 favourite stations are where there is a large extent 

 of sandy shore, interspersed with scalps, or beds of 

 muscles or other shell fish. These are generally un- 

 even in their surface, or are interspersed with pools, 

 which contain, breed, or tidely receive from the 

 ocean, various molusca and marine animals, furnish- 

 ing a favourite food to the birds. Hither they may 

 be seen hastening, from their marshalled ranks along 

 high water mark, so soon as the first object appears 

 above the waves, alighting, or clamorously flying 

 around it when its place is only visible from the 

 surf; and, as it becomes uncovered, a dense mass ol 

 birds crowd upon it, impatient for the additional store 

 of food which the last tide may have washed upon 

 it. In general they are shy, and will scarcely allow 



